The Undergraduate Program of Counting the Cost
(A Message to the Ministers)
(Preached Saturday Evening, May 16, 2020)
“And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, if any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
“And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
- “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
- “Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
“Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
“It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
(Luke 14:25-35)
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build, and was not able to finish.”
(Luke 14:28-30)
I. The Son of Man leads you to find Himself
”One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, ‘We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.’ And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, ‘Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.” (John 1:40-42)
a. Jesus saves!
”One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.” (John 1:40)
b. Jesus sends!
”He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, ‘We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.” (John 1:41)
c. Jesus! You will never be the same again!
” And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, ‘Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.” (John 1:42)
II. The Son of Man leads you to follow Him
”And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.” (Matthew 4:18-20; Mark 1:16-18)
a. Jesus seeks!
“And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.” (Matthew 4:18)
b. Jesus speaks!
”And he saith unto them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)
c. Jesus! You have begun to follow Him!
”And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.” (Matthew 4:20)
III. The Son of Man leads you to have faith in Him
”And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.” (Luke 4:38-39; cf. Matthew 8:14-15; Mark 1:29-31)
a. Jesus plans!
”And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.” (Luke 4:38)
b. Jesus stands!
” And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her.” (Luke 4:38a)
c. Jesus! Your life is turned upside down!
”And immediately she arose and ministered unto them.” (Luke 4:39b)
IV. The Son of Man leads you to finally forsake all for Him
”And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, and saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.” (Luke 5:1-3)
a. Jesus commands!
“Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, ‘Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.’
“And Simon answering said unto him, ‘Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.” (Luke 5:4-5)
b. Jesus completes!
“And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
“When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (Luke 5:6-8)
c. Jesus! Your life is finally his!
“For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: and so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, ‘Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.’
“And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.” (Luke 5:9-11)
OUTLINE:
- The Son of Man leads you to find Himself. (John 1:40-42)
- The Son of Man leads you to follow Him. (Matthew 4:18-20)
- The Son of Man leads you to have faith in Him. (Luke 4:38-39)
- The Son of Man leads you to finally forsake all for Him. (Luke 5:1-11)
WORSHIP:
- Worship: Give Me Thy Heart
- Before the Message: Have You Counted the Cost?